NYCPilot
Incorporated.
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2001
- Posts
- 645
I remember renting an airplane when I was a PP one afternoon, and on my way back in, probably about 30 miles out it began to get dark. It seemed that none of the panel or overhead lights worked, including the landing light. Luckily I had a small flashlight which I had to use in order to see the instruments. I had the flashlight in one hand and the controls in the other. It made for a very good learning experience.
It might also be a good idea to have your students fly the aircraft without any panel lights illuminating the instruments. At some point shut those lights off and see how well they handle it. Whether they have a flashlight and can read charts, navigate and hold the needles. Make sure they always have a flashlight handy, even if it’s a day flight. You never know if you’re going to be delayed for some reason and need to make a night return with an unexpected lack of interior lighting.
Although this occurred in VFR, for those who do a lot of their instrument training at night, this wouldn’t be a bad exercise to cut the lights on your IFR student and see how well they can shoot an approach with only a flashlight.
It might also be a good idea to have your students fly the aircraft without any panel lights illuminating the instruments. At some point shut those lights off and see how well they handle it. Whether they have a flashlight and can read charts, navigate and hold the needles. Make sure they always have a flashlight handy, even if it’s a day flight. You never know if you’re going to be delayed for some reason and need to make a night return with an unexpected lack of interior lighting.
Although this occurred in VFR, for those who do a lot of their instrument training at night, this wouldn’t be a bad exercise to cut the lights on your IFR student and see how well they can shoot an approach with only a flashlight.
